An update and consultation on 'How Is Your MPA Managed?'

19 March 2008

To: WPCA - Marine Section members, IUCN Global Marine Program Staff and colleagues in partner organisations

Dear IUCN/WCPA colleagues,

From October through December 2007, the Senior Advisory Group and Regional Coordinators of the WCPA Marine Section were invited to review and comment on a draft concept paper for a potential IUCN publication, tentatively entitled “How Is Your MPA Managed? A step-by-step guidebook for the planning of effectively managed marine protected areas”. The publication is being proposed to directly support the 2006 – 2012 WCPA Marine Plan of Action, particularly with respect to the first WCPA-Marine role of “helping governments and others to plan, develop, and implement MPAs, MPA networks, and the global system” (WCPA-Marine 2006, page 3).

We would like to thank the numerous reviewers from around the world for their positive response, thoughtful comments, and constructive suggestions on how to strengthen the proposed guide and make it useful for multiple audiences. Reviewers generally agree that the rationale and timing for this publication is justified, and agree that it would provide some practical utility to those within the international marine conservation community who are focused on planning and implementing MPAs.

Based on the comments and suggestions offered through this initial review process, a revised concept paper has been developed with the intention of inviting a broader review by the WCPA Marine Section membership. To this end, we formally invite you review and share your feedback with us on this draft in two ways:

(1) By providing any review comments or suggestions on the rationale, scope, content, and timeline of activities proposed within this concept paper; and

(2) By identifying any MPA management planning tools, initiatives, and/or content that could potentially be cited and/or included within the proposed guide.

The revised draft can be read on-line at the bottom of this introductory note or downloaded by clicking here.

We welcome the submission of your written review comments with us via email, care of John Parks (john.parks@noaa.gov). We kindly ask that all review comments be shared with us by April 30, 2008. A summary of all review comments and suggestions will be posted online here by late-May 2008, along with a determination by IUCN/WCPA as to whether or not (and if so, how) to proceed with building a partnership and timeline for the production of this guide. We thank you in advance for your constructive criticism and suggestions on the attached concept paper.

Sincerely,

Anne Walton, John Parks, and Jason Philibotte

U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Prof. Dan Laffoley and Dr. Elizabeth De Santo

IUCN WCPA - Marine